Fluid driven elevating amusement device



April 1, 1969 P. c. KNOX m 3,

FLUID DRIVEN ELEVATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1966 Sheet I of 3 INVENTOR a H4/LAN0 RQ/f/vox,H

B'Y ink Q1 W ATTOR NE Y April 1, 1969 P. c. KNOX Ill 3,436,074

FLUID DRIVEN ELEVATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 E j/ll/r/l 5 a5 =1 412 Id INVENTOR PH/LA A/DER CA N o X,

April 1, 1969 P. c. KNOX in 3,436,074

FLUID DRIVEN ELEVA'I'ING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Au 5. 1966 Sheet 3 of s 25 2/ 32 Q 3/ Q 8 1 29 I 3 Y E i x j za 22 86 3a .24 2O Z /9 2 2a; I

INVENT OR United States Patent U.S. Cl. 272-7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A passenger carrying toy simulating a space ship or rocket which may be operated by water pressure from a garden hose connected to a conventional domestic outlet to cause the space ship to ascend. Control means in the passenger compartment and operated by one of the passengers regulates the flow of the water into and out of an expansible chamber to control the ascent and descent of the vehicle or to enable it to remain stationary in any position of its travel. Water discharged during descent of the vehicle may be conveyed through a second hose to a lawn sprinkler.

This invention relates to a passenger conveying toy simulating a space ship or rocket and including a body or carriage defining a compartment for accommodating one or more passengers.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a toy which is powered by a fluid medium under pressure and which is capable of ascending when the fluid medium is supplied thereto and of descending when said fluid medium is bled therefrom, for simulating the travel of a rocket or space vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a manually operated control means within the passenger compartment which may be operated by a passenger for controlling the movement of the fluid medium to and from a part of the toy for causing the toy to ascend, decend or remain stationary in any position of its travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the aforedescribed character of extremely simple construction, which may be economically manufactured and sold, which will be eflicient and durable for its intended purpose, and which may utilize water from a faucet as the fluid medium under pressure or power source.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently prefered embodiment thereof, and written:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the toy space ship;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical sectional view of the toy vehicle;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, of a part of the toy as seen in FIG- U-RE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the toy space ship in its entirety is designated generally 10 and includes a base 11 composed of four corresponding elongated bars 12 which are arranged on edge and which have substantially coplanar bottom edges which are adapted to rest upon the ground or other suitable supporting surface. As seen in FIGURE 6, the bars 12 are arranged so that each bar is disposed at a right angle to the two bars between which it is disposed and parallel to the fourth bar and with inner ends of said bars arranged to form a hollow square in which the lower end of a rigid upright post or column 13, which is preferably hollow. Bolts of nut and bolt fastenings 14 extend through the parallel bars 12 and through the post 13 for securing said bars together and to the post. The inner surfaces of the portions of the bars 12 forming the opening of the square are cut as seen at 15 to accommodate the post 13 and to provide flat surfaces which grip the post. The undersides of the parts of the bars forming the square are preferably recessed, as seen at 16 in FIGURE 4, to accommodate a socket member 17 which may be secured in any conventional manner in the recess 16 and in which the lower end of the post 13 seats. A-n abutment member 18 is mounted on the post 13 and rests on the upper side of the base 11.

A plug 19 is secured in the upper end of the post 13 by fastenings 20. A bolt of a nut and bolt fastening 21 extends upwardly through the plug 19 and centrally through a disc 22 which rests on the upper end of the post 13. The disc 22 is of substantial thickness and of a larger diameter than the post 13 and provides a support for a cup washer 23, preferably formed of leather, which rests on the upper side of the disc 22 and is secured thereto by the fastening 21. A bumper ring 24, preferably formed of rubber, is mounted around the upper end of the post 13 and bears against the underside of the outer portion of the disc 22. The parts previously described constitute a stationary supporting structure of the toy space ship 10.

A sleeve or cylinder 25 fits telescopically over the post 13 and has a close fitting sliding engagement with the periphery of the disc 22 which provides an upper guide for said sleeve or cylinder 25. The upper edge of the cup washer 23 has a close fitting wiping engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve or cylinder 25. A cap 26 is disposed over the upper end of the sleeve 25 and is sealed and secured thereto in any conventional maner so that said cap, the upper portion of the sleeve and the cup washer 23 combine to perform an expansible sealed chamber 27.

The cap 26 has an outturned surrounding flange 28 at its lower end on which is supported a ring 29. A plurality, preferably six, bars 30 have upper inturned ends 31 which rest on the ring 29 and which are secured to said ring and the flange 28 by nut and bolt fastenings 32. Bars 30 are spaced equal distances apart around the cap 26. As seen in FIGURE 3, the bars 30 have corresponding diverging portions 33 which extend downwardly from the upper ends 31 at an incline, and lower vertically extending portions 34, forming continuations of the lower ends of the portions 33, and each of which has an inturned terminal 35 at its lower end.

A cone-shaped nose 36 is mounted over the cap 26 and rests on the rod portions 33. A disc 37 fits within the rod portions 33 and has a central opening through which the sleeve 25 extends. The rod portions 33 are secured to the cone 36 and the disc 37 by angle members 38 and fastenings 39. A deck member 40 in the form of a disc has a central opening 41 in which the lower end of the sleeve 25 is disposed. Fastenings 42 secure the deck 40 to the undersides of the terminals 35 for partially supporting the deck on the rods 30. A skirt member 43 is disposed around the lower parts of the rod portions 34 and is secured thereto, in any conventional manner. A seat 44 extends across the passenger compartment 45, beneath and adjacent the upper edge of the skirt 43, and is secured in any suitable manner to two oppositely disposed rod portions 34 and to the skirt 43 and is supported by uprights 46 which rise from the deck 40. A band 47 is disposed around and secured in any suitable manner to the rod portions 34, approximately midway between the upper edge of the skirt 43 and the disc 37. The rods 30, deck 40, skirt 43, band 47 and nose 36 form the vehicle body or carriage 58, the lower part of which, extending from the deck 40 to somewhat above the band 47, constitutes the passenger compartment 45. As seen in FIGURE 2, the skirt 43 has a section 48 which is hinged along one vertical edge as seen at 49 to form an access door to the passenger compartment 45 and which is normally retained in a closed position by a latch structure 50, as best seen in FIGURE 7. Ornamental fins 51 may be mounted externally and lengthwise of the vehicle body and may be attached in any suitable manner to the skirt 43 and band 47.

The inner portion of the deck 40 is supported by angle members 52 having upright legs which are secured to the interior of the sleeve by fastenings 53 and outturned lower legs on which portions of the deck 40 rest. An annular rider plate 54, preferably formed of two plies including a lower pl 55 of Masonite or metal, is disposed around the post 13 and against the undersides of the outturned lower legs of the angle members 52, and is secured to said lower legs and to the deck 40 by nut and bolt fastenings 56. The plate 54 has a central opening 57 which slidably engages the post 13 and which forms a lower guide for the aforementioned vehicle body 58. The post or column 13 is cylindrical and is provided on the exterior thereof with a spiral rib or thread 59, and the rider plate 54 is provided with an inclined notch 60 which opens into its opening 57, as seen in FIGURE 4, and which engages the rib 59, to cause the body or carriage 58 to revolve on the post 13 as it ascends and descends.

A three-way valve 61, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, is secured in any conventional manner to the sleeve 25 within the passenger compartment 45 and includes a crossshaped housing 62 preferably formed of plastic having aligned horizontal arms or branches 63 and 64 each containing an internally threaded hose coupling 65, corresponding to the hose coupling 66 which is secured in the outer end of the upwardly extending arm or branch 67. A cap 68 is secured over the downwardly extending branch or arm 69 of the housing 62 which aligns with the arm 67. A sleeve 70, preferably of rubber or plastic, fits immovably into the arms 69 and 67 with its upper end bearing against a sealing washer 71 which abuts the inner end of the coupling 66 and its lower end abutting a sealing ring 72 which seats in the lower end of the captj68 around a tubular valve member 73 which fits rotatably in the sleeve 70. The upper end of the valve member 73 extends into the sealing washer 71, and a lower portion thereof extends outwardly through a centrally disposed opening 75 in the lower end of the cap 68. An operating handle or lever 76 is secured to the lower end of the valve member 73 by a fastening 77 beneath the cap 68, and a plug 78 is secured in and seals said lower end of the valve member. The sleeve 70 has aligned openings 79 and 80 which register with the branches 63 and 64, respectively, the valve member 73 has a single opening 81 which may be disposed in registration with either of the openings 79 or 80.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, one end of an L-shaped nipple 82 threadedly engages through aligned openings 83 of the sleeve 25 and cap 26 to communicate with the chamber 27, and one end of a hose or flexible conduit 84 is secured to the other depending end of the nipple 82 by a clamp 85 and extends downwardly through aligned notches 86 in the flange 2'8 and ring 29 and through an opening 89 in the disc 37. The other end of the hose 84 is secured in the coupling 66.

One end of a flexible supply conduit or hose 87 is secured in the coupling 65 of the branch 63 and an end of a flexible conduit or how 88 is secured in the coupling 65 of the branch 64, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 5. The hoses 87 and 88 extend downwardly from the valve 61 through an opening 90 in the deck 40. The hose 87 is connected at its opposite end to a source of water supply under pressure, not shown, such as a conventional domestic hose faucet. The opposite end of the hose 88 may be attached to a conventional lawn srinkler, not shown.

Assuming that the passenger compartment is occupied by one or more passengers and that the vehicle 58 is at or adjacent its lowermost position of travel, as illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 1, and in FIGURES 3 and 4, the handle 76 is moved to its position of FIGURES 3 and 5 to align the opening 81 with the opening 79. Assuming that water is being supplied under pressure to the hose 87, when the valve 61 is thus adjusted, water under pressure will flow from the hose 87 through the valve 61 to and through the hose 84 and nipple 82 to the expansible chamber 27. The pressure of the water against the upper end of the cap 26 will cause said cap and the sleeve 25 to ascend relative to the disc 22 and cup washer 23 which are stationary. The vehicle 58 will ascend with .the sleeve 25 and the cap 26, relative to the post or column 13, to or beyond its dotted line position of FIGURE 1 and will revolve about said post or column during its upward travel and until the upper ends of the angle members 52 strike the abutment ring 24 to prevent further upward travel of the sleeve 25 and vehicle 58, or until the handle 76 is turned from its position of FIGURES 3 and 5 to move the valve port 81 out of registration with the intake port 79 to cut off the flow of water under pressure to the expansible chamber 27. Engagement of the rider plate 54 around the column 13 and the sliding engagement of the sleeve 25 with the disc 22 will maintain the sleeve 25 and vehicle 58 substantially concentric with respect to the stationary column 13.

By swinging the valve lever 76 180 from its position of FIGURES 3 and 5, the Valve port 81 will be moved out of registration with the inlet port 79 and into registration with the outlet port so that the weight of the parts supported by the sleeve 25 will cause the water, not shown, to be forced back through the nipple 82 from the chamber 27, through the hose 84 and valve 61, and into and through the outlet hose 88, to be discharged as heretofore described. The vehicle 58 and sleeve 25 will rotate during their descent relative to the column 13. The bumper or abutment 18 provides a stop to prevent downward travel of the sleeve 25 and vehicle 58 beyond the positions of said parts as seen in FIGURE 4. It will also be readily apparent that the valve lever 76 can be turned approximately from its position of FIGURE 3 to move the valve port 81 out of registration with both the intake port 79 and outlet port 80 to completely close the valve 61 so that the vehicle body 58 will remain stationary in any position of its travel.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy space ship comprising a base, a fixed column secured to and rising from said base, a head secured to the upper end of said column, a sleeve telescopically engaging over said column and having a fluid-tight sliding engagement with said head, an upper end of the sleeve extending to above the head in a lowermost position of the sleeve, means closing the upper end of said sleeve and combining with an upper part thereof and said head to form a single expansible chamber above the head, a vehicle body supported on and disposed around said sleeve and defining a passenger compartment, said vehicle body being rocket-shaped and including a conical upper end, a cylindrical skirt disposed beneath and spaced from said upper end, a deck disposed within and connected to the bottom portion of said skirt, and means securing said deck to the upper and lower ends of said sleeve, means for supplying a fluid medium under pressure to said expansible chamber and for bleeding the fluid medium therefrom for causing said vehicle body and sleeve to ascend and descend, respectively, relative to the base and column and including a three-way valve disposed in said passenger compartment having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a combination inlet and outlet port, a hose leading from a source of water supply under pressure and connected to said inlet port, a drain hose connected to and leading from said outlet port, a conduit connecting said combination inlet and outlet port to said expansible chamber, and a manually actuated valve member for connecting the combination inlet and outlet port to either the inlet port or outlet port for supplying water under pressure to the expansible chamber or for bleeding it therefrom, respectively, said valve member being movable to a position for sealing both the inlet and outlet ports for sealing the fluid medium under pressure in said expansi'ble chamber for maintaining the vehicle body immovable in any position of its travel.

2. A toy space ship as in claim 1, and means connecting the vehicle body and column to cause the vehicle body and sleeve to revolve relative to the column during travel thereof longitudinally of the column.

3. A toy space ship as in claim 1, said base comprising four straight bars having coplanar bottom edges adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said bars having inner ends secured together to form a square in which the lower end of the column is secured.

4. A toy space ship as in claim 1, said head including a thick disc of larger diameter than the column and of a size to be slidably engaged by said sleeve, and a cupshaped washer fixed to the upper side of said disc and of a size to have a fluid-tight sliding engagement with the sleeve for sealing the lower part of said expansible chamber.

5. A toy space ship as in claim 1, and abutment means including parts mounted on the column and parts carried by the vehicle body and engageable with said aforementioned parts for limiting travel of the vehicle 'body and sleeve in both directions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,046 5/ 1905 Praul 272-7 1,207,914 12/1916 Hazen 272-7 1,481,468 1/1924 Juth 248-44 1,740,701 12/ 1929 Osgood.

2,001,678 5/1935 Geib 272-7 2,786,453 3/1957 Pine 91-216 X 2,816,608 12/1957 Farmwald et al. 91-216 X 2,965,375 12/ 1960 Hamilton 272-7 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

5 M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

